The National Ballet of Canada and The Royal Ballet Celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Kevin O'Hare, Director of The Royal Ballet, today announced that the two companies will collaborate in a unique performance of Robert Binet's The Dreamers Ever Leave You in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. Receiving its UK premiere, the ballet will be performed by dancers from both companies in the vast industrial space of The Printworks, Canada Water in London from Thursday, October 12 to Friday, October 13, 2017.

First performed at the Art Gallery of Ontario in 2016, The Dreamers Ever Leave You is inspired by the landscape paintings of Canadian artist Lawren Harris and is set to live music by Lubomyr Melnyk. This immersive work invites the audience to move through The Printworks, around the performance as shifting light and colour evoke Harris' paintings of land, light and sky. The ever changing elements of the performance create a unique experience, as the dancers respond to the setting around them.

"The National Ballet of Canada has a long and meaningful relationship with The Royal Ballet and we are pleased to mark the occasion of Canada's sesquicentennial with this landmark performance featuring dancers from both company," said Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada.

Kevin O'Hare, Director of The Royal Ballet comments "The Royal Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada have worked together on many occasions and I'm thrilled that our dancers will perform together in what promises to be a unique dance experience in celebration of Canada's 150th anniversary."

Robert Binet is the Choreographic Associate of The National Ballet of Canada and was Choreographic Apprentice of The Royal Ballet 2012-13. The Dreamers Ever Leave You is the latest in a series of collaborations between The National Ballet of Canada and The Royal Ballet which includes co-productions of Christopher Wheeldon's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Winter's Tale and the annual World Ballet Day live digital stream.

The performances were announced today by the High Commission of Canada to the United Kingdom, Karen Kain, Barry Hughson, Executive Director of the National Ballet, and Kevin O'Hare at a press conference held at Canada House in London, UK.

The performance in London follows the National Ballet's performance of Nijinsky by John Neumeier at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées October 3 - 8, 2017 in Paris, France.

The tours to London and Paris are made possible with the generous support of Margaret and David Fountain. "Our respect and admiration for Karen Kain has only been deepened during her remarkable tenure as Artistic Director. We are proud to support her mission to showcase The National Ballet of Canada on the world stage in Paris and London in October of this year. We look forward to sharing in the excitement of returning with the company to these renowned international centres of dance."

The National Ballet of Canada will also perform The Dreamers Ever Leave You in March 2018 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto.

Tickets on sale July 26, 2017.

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